Wavelength Flexibility through Variable-Period Poling of Optical Fiber

ABSTRACT

A fiber laser system includes a high power pump laser, an optical fiber that is aligned to receive output from the high power pump laser. The fiber laser system includes a first pair of orthogonally opposed, periodic electrode structures longitudinally aligned on opposite first and second sides of the optical fiber. The fiber laser system includes a controller that is communicatively coupled to the first pair of periodic electrode structures. The controller performs variable period poling of the first pair of periodic electrode structures to achieve quasi-phase matching (QPM).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e)to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/872,316 entitled “WavelengthFlexibility Through Variable-Period Poling of Fluid-Filled Hollow-CorePhotonic Crystal Fiber,” filed 10 Jul. 2019, the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION

The invention described herein was made by employees of the UnitedStates Government and may be manufactured and used by or for theGovernment of the United States of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefore.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to fiber laser systems, andmore particularly to wavelength adjustable fiber laser systems.

2. Description of the Related Art

Applications exist for laser communication, sensing, and designatingthat benefit from being operable in more than one frequency. However,providing more than one laser each operable in respective frequenciescan be prohibitive in cost, size, weight and power (CSWAP).Alternatively, it is generally known that wavelength conversion of asingle laser can be achieved with nonlinear crystals by nonlinearoptical processes such as sum frequency and difference frequencygeneration or more specifically with optical parametric generation(OPG), optical parametric amplification (OPA), and optical parametricoscillation (OPO). However, efficient operation of typical processes arebelieved to require housing of the nonlinear crystal in an opticalcavity external to the pump laser, which seem to function near opticaldamage threshold and are opto-mechanically sensitive. Thus, thisalternative is also CSWAP prohibitive. Dynamic wavelength agility can beachieved by pump power modulation above and below the nonlinear processoperational threshold or by using a phase modulator to change the pumppolarization state such that the requisite phase matching conditions areinhibited.

In optical parametric generation (OPG), a high power pump laser isshined through a nonlinear medium with a second order nonlinearity (χ²).OPG is also referred to as difference frequency generation. Opticalparametric amplification (OPA) is similar to OPG. OPA uses a high powerpump that is shined in along with a weak seed laser. The seed can beeither the corresponding signal or idler wavelength. The seed isgenerated while the complimentary signal or idler is generated. If thephase matching condition (photon conservation of momentum) is met andsufficient pump power is used, the OPA process can be used to generatetwo longer wavelength photons called the signal (shorter or desiredwavelength) and idler (longer wavelength). The phase matching conditionis often met by sending the pump laser through a χ² nonlinear crystal ina very specific direction and with a specific polarization. Thistechnique is called birefringence phase matching.

Although this technique enables OPA operation the efficiency issometimes lower than ideal because the conditions for phase matchingusually come at the cost of directing the laser beam through the crystalin a direction for which the nonlinearity is low, the crystals areshort, and the crystals can only be exposed to a limited pump powerbefore damage.

To remedy this problem another technique called quasi-phase matching(QPM) is used to simultaneously achieve phase matching and highnonlinearity. The crystal nonlinearity is modified by applying aperiodic high voltage to the crystal. At high enough voltage, thisprocess produces a permanent periodic inversion of the crystalpolarization. The poling period is chosen to enable phase matching for aspecific signal wavelength. The process is permanent and the crystal canonly be used to produce a specific wavelength. Although an effectivesolution to low nonlinearity, the periodically poled crystals arerelatively short and sensitive to optical damage since they require veryhigh pump intensity. Also, this technique requires the addition of freespace optics to couple the pump laser to the crystal. If reduced pumppower is required then the crystal has to be placed in an opticalcavity.

A fiber based solution is based on gas or liquid filled hollow-corephotonic crystal fiber (HCPCF) and solid core fibers. χ² is typicallynegligible for glass, gases and liquids due to the random molecularorientations; the media is centrosymmetric and lacks a significant chi-2value. However, application of an electric field to a glass, gas, orliquid can induce an effective χ². So if the gas-filled HCPCF issandwiched between two electrodes with a voltage applied to theelectrodes, a χ² will be induced but the phase matching condition willlikely not be met. Pressure tuning the gas along with the fiberproperties enables some level of control over the phase matchingconditions and may enable higher order modes to be phase matched. Thisis unattractive because the higher modes will yield lower conversionefficiency and yield a poor beam quality laser emission.

An alternative is to enable quasi-phase matching by applying a periodicelectric field along the length of the gas filled HCPCF similar toperiodically poled niobate. The field will induce a χ² and proper polingperiod will enable phase matching of the fundamental modes. This wasproposed in 2016 (Broadband electric-field-induced LP01 and LP02.secondharmonic generation in Xe-filled hollow-core PCF) by JEAN-MICHEL MÉNARD,but an enabling method to implement was not contemplated or disclosed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description of the illustrative embodiments can be read inconjunction with the accompanying figures. It will be appreciated thatfor simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in thefigures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements are exaggerated relative to otherelements. Embodiments incorporating teachings of the present disclosureare shown and described with respect to the figures presented herein, inwhich:

FIG. 1 depicts a fiber laser system that dynamically changes signalwavelength of, according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 2A is an isometric diagram illustrating a gas or fluid-filledhollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HCPCF) with orthogonally opposed,periodic electrode structure, according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 2B is an isometric diagram illustrating the gas or fluid-filledHCPCF of FIG. 1 with a second pair of orthogonally opposed, periodicelectrode structure that is orthogonal to the first pair, according toone or more embodiments;

FIG. 3A depicts a diagrammatic side view of a linear fiber assembly witha single pair of electrode sets on diametrically opposed sides of anoptical fiber, according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 3B depicts a diagrammatic side view of a linear fiber assembly withperiodic groupings of three (3) positive electrodes and periodicgrouping of three (3) negative electrodes, according to one or moreembodiments;

FIG. 3C depicts a cross sectional diagrammatic side view of a linearfiber assembly with four selectable pairs of electrode sets, accordingto one or more embodiments;

FIG. 3D depicts a side diagrammatic side view of a linear fiber assemblywith a single pair of electrode sets that is spiraled around the opticalfiber with complementary corresponding positive and negative electrodebeing diametrically opposed, according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 4 depicts a three-dimensional, disassembled view of the cylindricalfiber assembly of FIG. 1, according to one or more embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a graphical plot of electrode poling period versus signalwavelength for different xenon (Xe) pressures and HCPCF diameters,according to one or more embodiments; and

FIG. 6 is a graphical plot for a liquid-filled HCPCF that uses carbondisulfide (CS₂), according to one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to aspects of the present invention, wavelength flexibilitythrough variable-period poling, or variable period quasi-phase matching(QPM), of fibers, including liquid or gas-filled hollow-core photoniccrystal fiber (HCPCF) and solid core fibers, enables wavelengthflexibility in a fiber based laser system for applications such ascommunications, three-dimensional laser scanning (“LADAR”), militaryilluminators, beacons, and designators. In particular, applyingdifferent poling periods around the fiber enables rapid wavelengthagility. In one or more embodiments, the fiber based laser system is oneor more of: (i) a simple, small, low cost and efficient; (ii)opto-mechanically insensitive to misalignment; and (iii) exhibit rapidwavelength switching; and (iv) provide considerable flexibility inwavelength selection.

In one or more embodiments, the present innovation uses solid corefibers. In one or more embodiments, the present innovation uses gas orliquid filled fibers. In one or more embodiments, the present innovationuses temporarily gas or liquid filled fibers. In one or moreembodiments, aspects of the present innovation provide periodic polingof a gas/liquid filled hollow core fiber or solid core fiber withdynamically adjustable poling period to enable wavelength flexibility.In contrast to the crystal, the effect of the poling will not bepermanent; once the field is turned off the molecules will relax andthere will be no optical axis. Thus, an optical parametric amplification(OPA) process can be turned on and off by turning the electrode voltageon and off. If the electrode period can be dynamically changed, the OPOprocess can enable the phase matching condition to be met for differentsignal and idler wavelengths.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides dynamic wavelengthagility. The ability to dynamically change wavelength is achieved byenergizing different electrodes where different electrodes havedifferent periods. Each period is designed to produce a particularwavelength. In one or more embodiments, a second technique uses a singleelectrode poling period with modulating power to the electrodes. So whenthere is no power you get the pump wavelength out and when there is avoltage applied to the electrode you get the design wavelength.

The present innovation has a number of applications that include opticalparametric generation (OPO), optical parametric amplification (OPA), andoptical parametric oscillation (OPO). In OPG, the input is one lightbeam of frequency ω_(p), and the output is two light beams of lowerfrequencies ω_(s) and ω_(i), with the requirement ω_(p)=ω_(s)+ω_(i).These two lower-frequency beams are called the “signal” and “idler”,respectively. This light emission is based on the nonlinear opticalprinciple. The photon of an incident laser pulse (pump) is divided intotwo lower-energy photons. The wavelengths of the signal and the idlerare determined by the phase matching condition. The wavelengths of thesignal and the idler photons can be tuned by changing the phase matchingcondition.

In one aspect, the present innovation provides wavelengthflexibility—reconfigurable electrodes to produce different periods ormultiple period electrodes around the fiber. Generally-known approachesare limited to solid core fibers and use a planar ground electrode andnot a periodic electrode of oppose polarity on either side of the fiber.The generally-known approach only achieved a conversion efficiency ofabout 0.1% and only focused on second harmonic generation. By usingperiodic electrodes of opposite polarity opposed to one another, our OPAis anticipated to have a conversion efficiency of approximately 30%based on modeling. The SHG and OPA process are similar enough that onecan directly compare the efficiencies. Also, we propose using additivemanufacturing or lithography techniques for electrode production toenable very short periods—as short at microns for lithography or ˜10'sof microns for additive manufacturing. The generally-known approachesuse printed circuit board with electrode period of −1.5 mm. This shortperiod forces them to work at low pressure where nonlinearity chi-2 islow. Highest chi-2 occurs at highest pressure which requires shortestelectrode period. Although some generally-known approaches use QPM,there was no suggestion of dynamic wavelength flexibility.

FIG. 1 depicts a diagram of a fiber laser system 100 that providesdynamic wavelength agility by configuring paired periodic electrodes 102a-102 b positioned on opposite sides of an optical fiber 104 provide afiber assembly 106 for adjusting quasi-phase matching. In one or moreembodiments, the paired periodic electrodes 102 a-102 b and opticalfiber 104 are arranged in a linear fiber assembly 106 a. In addition,the electrode period at different azimuthal angles along the cylinderare different—the phase matched wavelengths will vary depending on whichelectrode is powered. The poling period necessary to achieve phasematching for a particular signal wavelength is a function of the pumpwavelength, desired signal/idler wavelengths, fiber design and effectivemodal index of refraction. For a gas-filled fiber, pressure can be usedto tune the modal index of refraction. In one or more embodiments, thepaired periodic electrodes 102 a-102 b and optical fiber 104 arearranged in a cylindrical fiber assembly 106 b. In one or moreembodiments, the fiber 104 is 250 μm in diameter and is wrapped within acylindrical electrode 107 is approximately 300 μm and encases the fiber104 to form a cylindrical fiber assembly 106 b.

In one or more embodiments, the fiber laser system 100 is configured asan OPA with a pump output 108 from a high power pump laser 110 beingcombined by a dichroic mirror or fiber combiner (“combiner”) 112 with aseed output 114 from a seed laser 116. The seed output 114 can have asignal wavelength or an idler wavelength. The combiner 112 directs thepump output 108 and the seed output 114 in a single direction forcoupling to the fiber assembly 106 via a first lens 118 at one end of anoptical cavity 120 that contains the fiber assembly 106. In one or moreembodiments, the optical fiber 104 of the fiber assembly 106 has a solidcore. In one or more embodiments, the optical fiber 104 of the fiberassembly 106 is has a hollow core that is filled with a fluid comprisingone or more of a gas and a liquid. In one or more embodiments, thehollow core of the optical fiber 104 is encapsulated between an inputgas cell 124 and an output gas cell 126 that include a windowrespectively to receive combined input 128 to and direct output 130 fromthe fiber assembly 106. A collimation lens 132 collimates the output130. A first output dichroic mirror 134 separates residual pump laser136 from beam path 138. A second output dichroic mirror 140 separatesresidual idler laser 142 from beam path 138. In one or more embodiments,the seed laser 116 receives residual pump laser or 136 residual idlerlaser 142. What remains in beam path 138 is laser output signal beam144. In an exemplary embodiments, the pump laser 110 produces pumpoutput 108 having a wavelength of 1.06 μm, which results in residualidler laser 142 of wavelength 3.1 μm and laser output signal beam 144 ofwavelength 1.6 μm.

In one or more alternative embodiments, the fiber laser system 100includes two mirrors 146 a-146 b that define a mirror cavity 148 tooperate as an optical parametric oscillator (OPO). The OPO employs thesame fundamental nonlinear process, difference frequency generation, asis used for the OPA. The difference is that the nonlinear medium (herethe quasi-phase matched) of fiber assembly 106 is part of the opticalcavity 120 that serves to reduce pump power threshold and increaseconversion efficiency. Mirrors 1146 a-146 b reflect the signalwavelength with high reflectivity so that the signal wavelengthoscillates in the mirror cavity 148. This reduces threshold pump powerand increases efficiency. Neither the pump nor the idler oscillate butleak out instead.

FIG. 2A depicts a linear fiber assembly 206 a that includesgas/liquid-filled HCPCF 204 with periodic electrode structure or set 202a-202 b enabling QPM OPA laser generation. Reconfigurable electrodescould be constructed by making the electrodes much smaller than thenecessary period for phase matching and dynamically grouping electrodesto produce the desired periods. Integrated circuit techniques could beemployed to dynamically group electrodes. The electrode structure couldbe produced through lithography or additive manufacturing techniquesdepending on the required periods.

FIG. 2B depicts an alternative design of a linear fiber assembly 206 a′that includes gas/liquid-filled HCPCF 204 gas/liquid-filled HCPCF 200 bthat employs two orthogonal electrode sets or patterns 202 a-202 b, 204a 204 b. In one or more embodiments, electrode sets or patterns can beused that are at angles that are not orthogonal to each other. Thepoling period of the top and bottom electrode pattern 202 a-202 brespectively has a different poling period than the orthogonal right andleft electrode pattern 204 a-204 b. By switching voltage between top andbottom electrode pattern 202 a-202 b and right and left electrodepattern 204 a-204 b quasi-phase matching is achieved at two differentsignal wavelengths. In addition, one could rotate this electrodestructure around the fiber such that at different azimuth angles thereare different electrode periods which phase match different wavelengths.

FIG. 3A depicts a diagrammatic side view of a linear fiber assembly 306a with a single pair of electrode sets 302 a-302 b on diametricallyopposed sides of optical fiber 304 and that alternate positive andnegative electrode 307 a, 307 b. Wavelength agility can be achieved byactivating and deactivating all of the positive and negative electrode307 a, 307 b. In one or more embodiments, a periodic subset of thepositive and negative electrode 307 a, 307 b is activated anddeactivated to perform wavelength agility.

FIG. 3B depicts a diagrammatic side view of a linear fiber assembly 306b with a single pair of electrode sets 303 a-303 b on diametricallyopposed sides of optical fiber 304 and that repeatedly alternate in agrouping of three (3) positive electrodes 307 a and a grouping of three(3) negative electrode 307307 b. Wavelength agility can be achieved byactivating and deactivating all of the grouped positive and negativeelectrode 307 a, 307 b. In one or more embodiments, the positive andnegative electrode 307 a, 307 b are dynamically reconfigurable into adifferent number (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) of repeated groupings ofpositive and negative electrode 307 a, 307 b to perform wavelengthagility.

FIG. 3C depicts a cross sectional diagrammatic side view of a linearfiber assembly 306 c with four selectable pairs of electrode sets 311a-311 b, 312 a-312 b, 313 a-313 b, and 314 a-314 b, that alternatepositive and negative electrode 307 a, 307 b. Each electrode set 311a-311 b, 312 a-312 b, 313 a-313 b, and 314 a-314 b are diametricallyopposed to the corresponding other electrode set 311 a-311 b, 312 a-312b, 313 a-313 b, and 314 a-314 b of the pair. Each electrode set 311a-311 b, 312 a-312 b, 313 a-313 b, and 314 a-314 b is at differentradial positions to other electrode set 311 a-311 b, 312 a-312 b, 313a-313 b, and 314 a-314 b. Wavelength agility can be achieved byactivating one of the four pairs of electrode sets 311 a-311 b, 312a-312 b, 313 a-313 b, and 314 a-314 b that has respectively a differentperiod of positive and negative electrode 307 a, 307 b from other pairs.The first pair of electrode sets 311 a-311 b (“A1”, “B1”) has a periodthat is shorter than the second pair of electrode sets 312 a-312 b(“A2”, “B2”). The third pair of electrode sets 313 a-313 b (“A3”, “B3”)has period that is shorter than the first pair of electrode sets 311a-311 b (“A1”, “B1”). The fourth pair of electrode sets 314 a-314 b(“A4”, “B4”) has period that is longer than the first pair of electrodesets 311 a-311 b (“A1”, “B1”) and that is shorter than the second pairof electrode sets 312 a-312 b (“A2”, “B2”).

FIG. 3D depicts a side diagrammatic side view of a linear fiber assembly306 d with a single pair of electrode sets 321 a-321 b that spiralaround the optical fiber 304 with complementary corresponding positiveand negative electrode 307 a, 307 b diametrically opposed. The spiralshape can provide a structural benefit and can enable a higher densityof electrodes per longitudinal length of fiber.

In one or more embodiments, FIG. 4 depicts cylindrical electrode module401 that encases a long length of wrapped optical fiber 404 thatperforms wavelength agility as a cylindrical fiber assembly 406. Thecylindrical electrode module 401 includes an inner cylinder 405 a thatis nested within an outer cylinder 405 b. The optical fiber 404 is runthrough the cylindrical electrode module 401 between the inner and outercylinders 405 a 405 b to form the cylindrical fiber assembly 406. Anouter surface of the inner cylinder 405 a includes an inner periodicelectrode set 402 a having a repeating pattern of positive and negativeelectrodes 407 a 407 b. An inner surface of the outer cylinder 405 bincludes an outer periodic electrode set 402 b having a complementaryrepeating pattern of positive and negative electrodes 407 a 407 b to theinner periodic electrode set 402 a. The inner and outer periodicelectrode set 402 a 402 b that interact with the long length of theoptical fiber 404 to achieve quasi-phase matching.

In one or more embodiments, the optical fiber 404 is gas or liquidfilled and thus has a longer poling periods than a solid filled fiber. Alonger poling period makes the corresponding larger dimensions of theinner and outer periodic electrode sets 402 a-402 b, 404 a 404 b easierto manufacture. For instance Xe at 50 atmospheres has a period ofapproximately 1 mm whereas fused silica (glass) has a period ofapproximately 100 μm.

Liquid could be used instead of gas. FIG. 5 depicts a graphical plot 500of electrode poling period versus signal wavelength for different xenon(Xe) pressures and HCPCF diameters. FIG. 6 depicts a graphical plot 600for a liquid-filled HCPCF that uses carbon disulfide (CS₂).

If gas/liquid nonlinearity is too low then conversion efficiency will below. This could be remedied by placing the periodically poled gas/liquidfilled hollow fiber inside of an optical cavity to create an opticalparametric oscillator (OPO). OPOs are a common technology for wavelengthconversion but are usually constructed from a nonlinear crystal andcavity mirrors.

A significant problem with operation in a material outside of Noblegases (like Xe) is that parasitic processes like Raman scattering canbeat out the OPO/OPA channeling the pump energy into unwanted Ramanoutput wavelengths. A solution to this is to introduce significant lossat the Raman wavelength so that the OPA/OPO process can dominate.

The following four (4) references are included in the priority documentto the present application and are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entirety: (i)https://www.rp-photonics.com/optical_parametric_generators.html; (ii)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_parametric_amplifier; (iii)Quasi-phase matching, David S. Hum *, Martin M. Fejer, C. R. Physique 8(2007), pp. 180-198; and (iv) Phase-matched electric-field-inducedsecond harmonic generation in Xe-filled hollow-core photonic crystalfiber, JEAN-MICHEL MÉNARD AND PHILIP ST. J. RUSSELL, Vol. 40, No.15/Aug. 1, 2015/Optics Letters 3679. 0146-9592/; and (v) JEAN-MICHELMËNARD FELIX KÖTTIG, AND PHILIP ST. J. RUSSELL, Vol. 41, No. 16/Aug. 15,2016/Optics Letters 3795.

In one or more embodiments, the present disclosure provides wavelengthflexibility through application of multiple periodic electrodestructures. The specific wavelength that is produced depends on whichelectrode is powered. This process is useful for any nonlinear processthat requires phase matching and can be used in gas or liquid filledfibers and fused silica solid core fibers. The latter includes fiberssuch as telecom fibers.

In one or more embodiments, the present disclosure provides acylindrical electrode that enables use quasi-phase matching on any typeof fibers. This can be for the purpose of creating a specific wavelengthor to achieve wavelength agility. The key is that cylindrical electrodeenables long interaction length in a practical electrode structure. Oneaspect of using the term “cylindrical” is associated with producing anumber of different periodic electrodes (different periods) and wrappingthem around the fiber. By choosing which one is powered, the wavelengthproduced can be chosen. The second usage of “cylindrical” toimplementing single electrode period within cylindrical packaging forreduced length that is more compact and practical. In one or moreembodiments, the cylinder electrode could have different periods atdifferent heights to enable use of multiple electrode periods.

While the disclosure has been described with reference to exemplaryembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Inaddition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular system,device or component thereof to the teachings of the disclosure withoutdeparting from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intendedthat the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodimentsdisclosed for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote anyorder or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are usedto distinguish one element from another.

In the preceding detailed description of exemplary embodiments of thedisclosure, specific exemplary embodiments in which the disclosure maybe practiced are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilledin the art to practice the disclosed embodiments. For example, specificdetails such as specific method orders, structures, elements, andconnections have been presented herein. However, it is to be understoodthat the specific details presented need not be utilized to practiceembodiments of the present disclosure. It is also to be understood thatother embodiments may be utilized and that logical, architectural,programmatic, mechanical, electrical and other changes may be madewithout departing from general scope of the disclosure. The followingdetailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense,and the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appendedclaims and equivalents thereof.

References within the specification to “one embodiment,” “anembodiment,” “embodiments”, or “one or more embodiments” are intended toindicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure. The appearance of such phrases invarious places within the specification are not necessarily allreferring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternativeembodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Further, variousfeatures are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments andnot by others. Similarly, various requirements are described which maybe requirements for some embodiments but not other embodiments.

It is understood that the use of specific component, device and/orparameter names and/or corresponding acronyms thereof, such as those ofthe executing utility, logic, and/or firmware described herein, are forexample only and not meant to imply any limitations on the describedembodiments. The embodiments may thus be described with differentnomenclature and/or terminology utilized to describe the components,devices, parameters, methods and/or functions herein, withoutlimitation. References to any specific protocol or proprietary name indescribing one or more elements, features or concepts of the embodimentsare provided solely as examples of one implementation, and suchreferences do not limit the extension of the claimed embodiments toembodiments in which different element, feature, protocol, or conceptnames are utilized. Thus, each term utilized herein is to be given itsbroadest interpretation given the context in which that terms isutilized.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure.As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

The description of the present disclosure has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to beexhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thedescribed embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explainthe principles of the disclosure and the practical application, and toenable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosurefor various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A fiber laser system comprising: a high powerpump laser; an optical fiber that is aligned to receive output from thehigh power pump laser; a first pair of orthogonally opposed, periodicelectrode structures aligned on opposite first and second sides of theoptical fiber; and a controller communicatively coupled to the firstpair of periodic electrode structures and that performs dynamicallyadjustable period poling of the first pair of periodic electrodestructures to achieve quasi-phase matching (QPM) with wavelengthagility.
 2. The fiber laser system of claim 1, further comprising: aseed laser that emits one of a seed laser beam at one of a signalwavelength and an idler wavelength; and an optical combiner thatcombines the output from the high power pump laser and the seed laser,wherein the fiber laser system is configured as an optical parametricamplifier (OPA).
 3. The fiber laser system of claim 1, furthercomprising two opposing mirrors positioned on opposite axial sides ofthe optical fiber to form an optical cavity, wherein the fiber lasersystem is configured as an optical parametric oscillator (OPO).
 4. Thefiber laser system of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber comprise anonlinear optical crystal that generates an output containing a signaland an idler, wherein the fiber laser system is configured as an opticalparametric generator (OPG).
 5. The fiber laser system of claim 1,wherein the controller activates: (i) a periodic first subset of theelectrodes of one of the first pair of orthogonally opposed, periodicelectrode structures; and (i) a corresponding periodic second subset ofthe electrodes of another of the first pair of orthogonally opposed,periodic electrode structures to dynamically adjust the period poling.6. The fiber laser system of claim 1, further comprising a second pairof orthogonally opposed, periodic electrode structures longitudinallyaligned and unaligned to the first pair, the second pair having adifferent periodic length than the first pair, wherein the controller iscommunicatively coupled to the second pair to achieve QPM at twodifferent signal wavelengths.
 7. The fiber laser system of claim 1,wherein the optical fiber comprises a fused silica solid core fiber. 8.The fiber laser system of claim 1, wherein the optical fiber comprises ahollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HCPCF) that is filled with a fluid.9. The fiber laser system of claim 8, wherein the fluid comprises a gas.10. The fiber laser system of claim 9, further comprising an opticalattenuator that attenuates at a Raman wavelength to attenuate Ramanscattering parasitic process.
 11. The fiber laser system of claim 9,wherein the gas comprises a noble gas.
 12. The fiber laser system ofclaim 11, wherein the noble gas is xenon (Xe).
 13. The fiber lasersystem of claim 8, wherein the fluid comprises a liquid.
 14. The fiberlaser system of claim 8, wherein the first and second pairs are rotatedaround the optical fiber at different azimuth angles at and havedifferent electrode periods which phase match different wavelengths. 15.The fiber laser system of claim 1, wherein the controller performsdynamically adjustable period poling of the first pair of periodicelectrode structures to achieve QPM with wavelength agility: in responseto a first mode selection, activates the first pair of periodicelectrode structures to achieve a first wavelength of output that is oneof signal and idler wavelength; and in response to a second modeselection, deactivates the first pair of periodic electrode structuresto achieve a pump wavelength of output.